DUI's On The Decrease

In the city of Norman the number of DUI’s has decreased a significant amount. In 1997 there were 665 DUI cases reported throughout the Norman community including the University of Oklahoma campus. Unbelievably, as of 2010 the number of DUI’s is the exact same number as 1997. Comparing Norman to its rival town was quite disappointing. Stillwater recorded only 174 DUI’s in 1997 and while it did increase in 2010 with 233 Stillwater’s statistics are significantly lower. While we have to take into account the population difference of Norman and Stillwater, there is no excuse.

             As officer Gary Schmidt said, “A DUI is a serious matter that should not be taken lightly. It is not only effecting the person’s present, it is also effecting their future.”  According to MADD (Mother’s Against Drunk Driving), Oklahoma is ranked number 27^th in the nation with 235 drinking and driving fatalities and a state subsidy of $1.1 billion. “In 2009, Oklahoma passed a repeat offender interlock law and became the third state to make DUI with a child passenger in a vehicle a felony. MADD is working to require ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers” (MADD).

            Trevor Jennings, Junior at the University of Oklahoma and a one-time offender of drinking and driving said if he could do it over again he would not have driven. He considered himself a “professional drunk driver” and never thought that he would get pulled over or face the consequences that he faced. “If you are convicted of your first DUI offense, you can expect to face consequences in your criminal court such as: fines up to $1,000, jail time between 10 days and 1 year, possible patient treatment program, up to 480 hours of community service, and a possible ignition interlock device” (duiconsequences).

            “In 2009 alone about four people were killed in an alcohol-impaired driving fatalities for every 100,000 Americans. Since 1999, the rate of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in the U.S. decreased 23%” (Drunk Driving Research). As Jennings mentions in the video story, don’t drink and drive it’s not worth risking your life or someone else’s. 

J.D. McCarty Center Set to Break Ground

Jennifer Giamelle, Volunteer Coordinator
PHOTO BY: Ashley Burns

The News: The J.D. McCarty Center in Norman, OK is scheduled to break ground this summer to create Camp Claphands, a summer camp for disabled children. The camp will open in June of next year and will hold up to 20 campers a week.

The Impact: The J.D. McCarty center houses 36 patients that range in age from birth to 21 years. They are mostly children that are wards of the state or taken away from their families by the government. There is a waiting list, but in order to be put on the list the patients have to go through a series of evaluations and screenings and then if they meet the criteria they are then put on the list. Jennifer Giamelle, Volunteer Coordinator at the McCarty Center said, "Most children are put on the waiting list and have to wait a full year before they can live in our facilities. There are certain circumstance that are taken into account that could speed up the process for the child, but that is rare".

The Context: Established in 1946, the McCarty Center treated just one thing - cerebral palsy. Today they have treated more than 100 different diagnoses in the developmental disability category. Since 1946, they have evolved into Oklahoma's center of excellence in the care and treatment of children with special needs.


Patient and Visitor Entrance
PHOTO BY: Ashley Burns



Human Dimension: Giamelle said, "Everything we do at the McCarty Center is about two things: creative problem solving and adaptation. Our staff works to creatively solve some of the challenges that stand in the way of patients and then adapt to the tools and their environment so they can achieve their highest level of independence and functionality. We focus on the "can do," not the "can't do"".

Construction of Camp Claphands
PHOTO BY: Ashley Burns





What's Next?: The J.D. McCarty Center will be celebrating their 65th year anniversary in June. They have volunteer internships available for college students that are wanting to work in this type of field or atmosphere. The center welcomes any volunteers or student groups that would like to come and work with the children. Giamelle said, "this allows our kids to see that people do care and are willing to volunteer their time for the betterment of them". If you are looking for an internship or an ongoing volunteer opportunity you can contact the center at (405) 307-2800.



Entrance to J.D. McCarty
PHOTO BY: Ashley Burns